Barry Morphew faces his last continuance January 12. Judge Amanda Hopkins made clear in November there will be no more delays—seven months of discovery ends with a plea entry and a trial date for summer 2026.
The 1:30 PM status conference in Alamosa County Court will formalize what’s been building since June 2025, when a grand jury indicted Morphew for murdering his wife Suzanne nearly six years after she disappeared on Mother’s Day 2020. Morphew has been free on $300,000 bond since September, living under house arrest in Maysville with GPS monitoring.
Investigators found Suzanne’s remains September 22, 2023 in a shallow grave near Moffat. The autopsy determined homicide by BAM—a wildlife tranquilizer cocktail of butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine. The compound turned up in her bone marrow. Forensic evidence proved the body was moved at least twice after decomposition began elsewhere. Minimal bug activity and intact clothing showed the burial site wasn’t where she died.
Prescription records revealed Barry Morphew was the only private citizen in south-central Colorado with access to BAM during 2017-2020. He admitted using it on a deer near the home in April 2020—one month before Suzanne vanished. A tranquilizer rifle sat in a gun safe with darts and capped needles. A needle cap appeared in the dryer. Tests showed Suzanne metabolized the drug before death. She was alive when tranquilized.
Four days before she disappeared, Suzanne texted Barry: “I’m done. I could care less what you’re up to and have been for years. We just need to figure this out civilly.” Two days later she told her sister Barry was “abusive, emotionally and physically.” Barry’s phone went dark for hours the day she disappeared. Arizona authorities arrested him June 20, 2025 living under the alias “Lee Moore.”
This is Morphew’s second prosecution. The first collapsed in April 2022 when 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley dropped all charges days before trial. Stanley’s handling was catastrophic. She violated discovery rules repeatedly, withheld exculpatory evidence, and launched a baseless investigation into Judge Ramsey Lama after he ruled against her—pursuing domestic violence allegations the disciplinary board later called an “unfounded online conspiracy theory.” She appeared on YouTube true-crime shows, texted hosts about case evidence, and posted comments attacking other users. She showed up late to court. Judge Lama sanctioned her office and blocked most expert witnesses as punishment.
The Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel filed a misconduct complaint in October 2023. After a two-week hearing, the Colorado disciplinary board disbarred Stanley in September 2024 for “dereliction of duty” and abusing her “position of trust.” State attorneys called her prosecution a “debacle.”
Twelfth Judicial District Attorney Anne Kelly now handles the case. Her jurisdiction includes Saguache County where Suzanne’s body was found. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty assists. Denver County provides appellate support. “While it may seem at times that the world forgets about these victims, I can assure you that law enforcement does not forget,” Kelly said announcing the June 2025 indictment.
The difference is physical evidence. Stanley prosecuted without a body, without cause of death, without proof of murder. The grand jury had Suzanne’s remains, autopsy results, and forensic proof the body was moved. Judge Hopkins has kept tight control. She shut down public livestreaming in October 2025 after YouTube channels posted recordings that drew threats against the court. Only credentialed media can access proceedings now.
Defense attorney David Beller maintains Barry’s innocence. Barry was prescribed tranquilizers in 2018 in Indiana before moving to Colorado. Law enforcement found no tranquilizer in his possession after Suzanne’s murder. He complied with all conditions during his 2021 release. Hopkins denied reducing the $3 million bond but modified it to allow surety. Supporters raised $300,000 in September 2025.
Barry’s daughters Mallory and Macy attend every hearing. Their support influenced Hopkins to allow the surety bond despite opposition from Suzanne’s family. The defense will challenge how Barry could move a body under intense scrutiny in a town where he’s the most recognizable face. Local radio director Dan Ridenour questioned the logistics: “He’s going to take that chance and drive 70 miles to the south and dig a shallow grave?”
Hopkins gave defense and prosecution seven months to prepare. That time ends January 12. A first-degree murder charge carries life without parole. The plea entry sets the path to trial. Stanley’s misconduct delayed this moment by three years. Whether Kelly’s prosecution answers the defense’s questions is for a jury to decide.
Support Independent Local Journalism — High Country Advocate was created as a real alternative to regional media that too often silences dissenting voices while taking sides in the political struggle. Producing in-depth, unflinching reporting like this series and others is expensive: servers, editing, research time, and legal review all add up quickly. If these articles have informed you or given you new perspective, please consider supporting HCA with a paid subscription — every subscriber helps keep this reporting strong and independent. 